We are bound by social norms and structures. From the moment we were born we have been conditioned by our parents, our societies and our cultures. We can call it social conditioning. These norms and structures will one day become old and need to be updated. History shows us that social norms are dynamic and could change according to the overall sentiment at the time.
The main problem with social norms is their limited nature. They form our thought patterns but at the same time prevent us from expressing freely. We need to look beyond these norms and limitations in order to live the life we want.
Old Norms Served Old Purposes
So what are these norms exactly? They are basically rules (spoken or unspoken), traditions, customs and cultures, etc. The list goes on. They are part of our life. Let’s look at the evolution of political systems, religions and cultures. What was deemed as normal a hundred years ago may be deemed as abhorrent today. To get in idea, all we need is to look at is what happened in the last century.
While these norms shape us as people and our societies overall, ultimately these are rules set by someone else. It’s a one-size-fits-all approach to solving a problem. For example, we could look at some of these old norms and structures that came out of the Industrial Revolution. Modern schools and jobs are some good examples of this. Schools were mostly places to train people to become workers doing their jobs in order to serve nation building.
We Want Self-expression
There is nothing wrong with building nations or societies. These structures were necessary. People used to go to work in order to contribute towards a common cause. But things have changed throughout the years. As time passes, people and societies have become more diverse in what they want in life. We don’t just want to follow old structures and rules, but we want to express ourselves more than before.
For example, the term ‘work-life balance’ is a relatively new concept. It shows that people want something outside merely just making a living. People have started to look for meaning as opposed to going through the motions. There seems to be an innate desire to pursue personal goals and aspirations beyond just work for the sake of making a living. Young kids don’t just want to learn to get good grades but to find what they truly feel passionate about.
Forms and norms are fixed. Sometimes they become redundant. Think about the concept of going to an actual location to learn or work. These days many people don’t even need to commute to work or go to schools, you could do all these things online.
Moving Towards Self-actualisation
Societies are built by individuals. Every individual is a building block that makes up communities and societies. If we want the best for society, it makes sense to focus on ourselves as individuals as a starting point. If we look at Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, we will see that once our basic needs have been met, we would move towards self-actualisation. We want things that fulfil our deeper desires and create meaning for others. There is a shift in focus towards individuals rather than the whole group.
Social norms can be useful for societies but they could also hold us back. As humans progress, we move from following structured norms towards self-expression and self-actualisation. From old thinking patterns to more creative ways to develop as individuals. The important thing is to look beyond these limitations and build a life we truly desire.